Catalent Appoints New Vice President of Open Innovation, Biologics, Cell and Gene Therapy

Catalent announced it has named Behzad Mahdavi, PhD, as the new vice-president of Open Innovation, Biologics, Cell and Gene Therapy, where he will join a team of experts in the company’s Science and Technology Group to fast-track the adoption of new development and drug delivery technologies and manufacturing processes and techniques.

Prior to his new role, Mahdavi was the CEO of SAM Electron Technologies, a life sciences company, and most recently served as Lonza’s vice-president of Strategic Innovation and Alliances, a Nov. 19, 2020 company press release said.

“As a company, Catalent continues to invest in the rapidly evolving and growing areas of cell and gene therapies and next-generation biopharmaceuticals, which are redefining the landscape of treating diseases,” said Julien Meissonnier, Catalent’s chief scientific officer, in the press release. “I am delighted to welcome Behzad to Catalent, as he brings significant experience in leveraging accelerated innovation with strategic external sourcing, to further strengthen our strategy of delivering the therapies of tomorrow to patients faster, and more efficiently.”